London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the British government and the British Museum to reach a “win-win arrangement” with Greece over the Parthenon Marbles.
In an interview with the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea, Mr Khan said that in terms of the Parthenon Marbles “there’s a discussion to share some of this stuff.”
The London mayor said he wants Londoners to be able to see the Parthenon Marbles, “but I don’t see why the British Museum, the British government, the government of Greece and the museum in Athens can’t come to an accommodation to share these…”
“It is important for us to recognise that actually, not all the exhibits that are in the British Museum are ones that should just stay in London,” Mr Khan added.
While Mr Khan stopped short of saying that the Marbles should be permanently returned to Athens, he said the agreement should be “a win for both Greece and the UK.”
The Parthenon Marbles have been showcased in the British Museum since 1832 after being ripped from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin, a British diplomat.
Since then, the British Museum and the British government have refused to listen to repeated calls from Greece to return the marbles to Athens.
Source: Yannis Andritsopoulos, London Correspondent for the Greek daily newspaper Ta Nea.
